Saudi Arabia cracks down on heritage site defacement with hefty fines
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia has issued a stern warning against damaging the nation's cultural heritage sites, imposing hefty...Arts & Culture
Music beats the blues in Tunisian youth project
Local children and teenagers come together in the afternoon to compose and rehearse music for a creative break from their...Arts & Culture
‘Robot chef’ makes steaks at Israel restaurant
The "robot chef", which is the size of a large oven, can make three different steaks simultaneously -- though a...It mixes ingredients including beans, potatoes and chickpeas to create a texture that resembles that of real meat, says CEO of an Israeli startup.
Around five percent of Israelis say they are vegan and the market for meat alternatives is on the rise.
UAE issues first civil marriage license for non-Muslim couple
The UAE issued its first civil marriage license for a non-Muslim couple, state media reported Monday, as the Gulf country...A Canadian couple was the first to marry under a new law on the personal status of non-Muslims in the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi.
Late last year, the UAE revamped an array of laws in a social liberalization drive designed to burnish its progressive brand.
Largest museum of Egyptian civilization to open in 2022 near Giza Pyramids
Egypt is set to open what is billed as the world’s largest museum of Egyptian civilization near the iconic Giza...The Grand Museum is spread across 117 acres. Its inauguration was delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic, and will now open in the second half of 2022.
Egyptian teams managed to restore very important statues in the Luxor area, including a statue of King Ramses II who ruled Egypt for 66 years.
Spider-Man first $1bn post-pandemic movie
No Way Home has grossed $467.3 million in North America and $587 million internationally since its release earlier this month.Spider-Man has become the first billion-dollar-grossing film of the pandemic era
The movie took an estimated $81.5 million in North America over the Christmas weekend
Heart of Baghdad’s book trade gets makeover
Colorful fireworks lit up the sky during the festival organized by Baghdad municipality to inaugurate the renovated Al-Mutanabbi Street, which...The street's new look comes alongside art exhibitions, gallery openings, book fairs, and festivals reflecting a fledgling cultural renaissance.
Al-Mutanabbi Street was first inaugurated in 1932 by King Faisal I and named after the celebrated 10th-century poet Abul Tayeb al-Mutanabbi.
Christmas joy dims in Syria as only the elderly remain
The brutal occupation of the Homs province by the Islamic State group has left the local Christian community devastated.The town of Al-Qaryatain in Syria’s Homs province was once viewed as a symbol of coexistence between Christians and Muslims
The communities had lived there together for centuries before the Islamic State group seized the area in 2015
Young Iraqi film students tell their own stories from Mosul
In a collaboration between the Mosul fine arts academy, a Belgian theatre company and UNESCO, 19 students are getting a...In a collaboration between the Mosul fine arts academy, a Belgian theatre company and UNESCO, 19 students are getting a chance to make their first short films
Over a four-month course, students get a taste of everything from writing and shooting to acting and editing
AfCon to be held as planned despite Omicron surge
The Confederation of African Football President Patrice Motsepe has confirmed that AFCON 2021 will go ahead as planned in January...The AFCON will take place in Cameroon starting from January 9 to February 6, 2022 despite deadly surge of the Omicron virus
Nobody would be allowed to set foot in the stadiums without a negative PCR test
China gives celebrities 10 days to shell out unpaid taxes
China has launched a sweeping state crackdown on tax evasion and perceived immoral behavior in the entertainment industry. The move...YouTuber Huang Wei was ordered to pay a record $200 million fine for tax evasion on Monday
Actress Zheng Shuang was in August hit with a $46-million fine for tax evasion
Iraqi labourer preserves calligraphic art
Hussein's creations are made with a reed pen that he buys from Turkey or Iran. He sometimes sells the work...Hussein's creations are made with a reed pen that he buys from Turkey or Iran
He sometimes sells the work for posters, shop displays and even tombstones
